Chapter 204: Scavenging Junk? No—Scavenging Money

Everything I know about the Wood Elves… I learned from you in my previous life.

Nolan suddenly found himself lost in thought. Among the traditionally conservative Wood Elves, Romina had always belonged to the rare faction of forward thinkers. It was after surviving a devastating catastrophe that she resolved to change the survival philosophy her people had upheld for thousands of years.

She led the remnants of the Wood Elves out of the forest and founded the Silent Watchers, becoming the first Wood Elf in history to forge alliances with the human kingdoms. 

By then, the clarity in her eyes had long since vanished, replaced only by the exhaustion and determination of someone weathered by countless hardships.

Later, she even pushed for intermarriage between Wood Elves and outsiders. Through foresight far beyond that of her kin, she saved the Wood Elf race from decline and became their greatest leader, until ultimately falling in the war against the undead.

Perhaps the seeds of that transformation had already been planted in her heart long ago.

Nolan sank so deeply into memory that he did not come back to himself until Finley’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

Finley was clearly displeased by Romina’s words. Although she was the captain he secretly admired, he finally could not hold back anymore.

“What’s so good about the outside world?” His tone carried the pride and rejection so characteristic of the Wood Elves. “The other races have no respect for nature. For their own benefit, they slaughter their own kind and wage endless wars. Why should the Wood Elves associate with them?” Halfway through speaking, he suddenly realized Nolan’s group belonged to the “other races” he had just condemned. His expression immediately turned awkward, and he coughed lightly before adding, “Of course, Lord Nolan… you are exceptionally different. But you cannot represent everyone.”

Nolan shook his head. “There are good people everywhere, and there are rotten ones everywhere too. You can’t condemn the existence of good simply because evil exists. Your problem is that prolonged isolation prevents you from truly understanding others. In the end, ignorance hardens into prejudice and blind hostility.”

Then his gaze shifted toward Romina, growing more serious.

“It’s not too late to start now, Romina. I know the Wood Elves have followed a path of isolation for ages, and trying to reconnect with the outside world will face enormous resistance. But I can help. I can try to persuade them.”

As he spoke, Nolan was already subtly laying the groundwork for deeper cooperation with the Wood Elves.

Finley was obviously unconvinced by Nolan’s argument. His lips moved as though he wanted to rebut him. Still, Nolan truly was honorable, and a hero who had slain demons besides, so Finley refrained from openly arguing. Even so, his expression clearly showed his dissatisfaction.

“Let’s discuss that after we resolve the Foundation of Life crisis,” Romina said after a moment of thought. She looked deeply at Nolan, expectation flickering within her gaze. “With your help this time, I believe the Council of Elders will begin to see the outside world—and humanity—in a different light.”

Romina was optimistic.

But Nolan knew better.

Those ancient fossils who had lived for centuries, even millennia, were more stubborn than stone itself. Did anyone really think they could change their minds through words alone? That would never be enough. When the time came, he would probably have to employ some rather “special” methods.

Thanks to the guidance of the Wood Elves and the ranger patrol clearing obstacles and threats ahead of time, the group’s progress through the forest was fairly swift. Along the way, Nolan’s party encountered quite a few monster carcasses, obviously the work of the rangers. Most of them had died in the same manner: a single arrow piercing directly through a vital point, killing them instantly.

Looking at the bizarre-looking magical beasts, Nolan’s eyes suddenly lit up.

These were all treasures!

“Romina, what do you usually do with these corpses?” Nolan asked, pointing toward a recently slain monster resembling a wild boar with six legs.

“These?” Romina glanced at it casually. “We leave them here. The other creatures of the forest will decompose them soon enough. We have no use for such things.”

“Perfect,” Nolan said immediately. “Since you don’t want them, I’ll gladly take them.” He turned toward his men and ordered, “Dissect all of them and bring everything useful back. Especially the monster cores—don’t leave a single one behind!”

“Yes, my lord!”

Watching this unfold, Finley’s expression became increasingly strange. He genuinely could not understand why this seemingly wise and heroic human lord would show interest in worthless monster carcasses.

This lord was surprisingly petty.

“Nolan, what do you need them for?” Romina asked in confusion. “The flesh of magical beasts is contaminated by chaotic mana. It’s completely inedible…”

Nolan nearly rolled his eyes.

Was he really just a glutton in her mind?

Magical beasts were abundant within the forest. To the Wood Elves, they were commonplace—sometimes even treated as pests.

Of course Nolan knew the meat could not be eaten. He had no intention of eating it anyway.

The Wood Elves drew pure magical energy directly from the Foundation of Life and the will of the forest itself. To them, the monster cores formed within these mana-tainted creatures were far too impure and inefficient to be worth using.

But Nolan was different.

With the alchemy master Leus at his side, these monster cores could become an enormous source of wealth and resources. Inside Nolan’s mind existed the “advanced technology” players had gradually developed over more than a decade of gameplay. He knew of an efficient purification method capable of refining low-grade monster cores in bulk and extracting pure magic crystals from them. The yield was not high, but sheer quantity made up for it. Compared to searching for rare crystal mines, this method was vastly easier—winning through volume instead.

If he brought these monster cores back to Leus, the refined magic crystals could be used to power the Coldsteel Pride. Until they established a Mage Tower, this alone could solve one of their most urgent problems.

Whether for export or personal use later on, the potential value was enormous. Nolan had even begun wondering how to convince the Wood Elves to help him kill magical beasts for free.

Not wanting to appear too shocking, he maintained a perfectly natural expression.

“We’re not eating them either, Romina. But things you consider worthless can still fetch very high prices from alchemists and mages in the human kingdoms.” He patted the pouch at his waist and added half-jokingly, “My territory needs development. And development requires money.”

Listening nearby, Finley felt the little admiration he had developed for Nolan rapidly diminish again, replaced by contempt.

So he was still just a human after all. No matter how outstanding he might be, he ultimately could not escape the smell of money.

“Oh, right.” Nolan suddenly added, winking at Romina. “I actually do know a few special recipes for cooking magical beasts. If there’s a chance later, I’ll show you.”

Finley’s mouth twitched. At this point, he no longer wanted to say a single word.

Romina, however, understood Nolan’s reasoning. Unlike the other Wood Elves, she showed no disgust at the mention of “monster cuisine.” Instead, there was even a trace of cautious curiosity in her eyes.

“If there’s an opportunity… perhaps I’d like to try it.”

Among the Wood Elves, Romina was one of the rare few possessed of genuine curiosity and a desire to explore. Perhaps it was exactly this quality that made her stronger in spirit than ordinary Wood Elves.

The group continued onward, stopping occasionally to gather their “spoils.” After more than half a day, they had already penetrated deep into the forest.

Everywhere around them stood towering ancient trees so massive that more than a dozen people linking arms would be required to encircle one. Their enormous canopies blocked out the heavens, casting the forest into perpetual dimness and making even the passage of time feel vague and distorted.

For the young men of the Holy Hammer Division, entering an environment like this for the first time, the oppressive atmosphere became increasingly suffocating. Every one of them felt tense, constantly imagining hidden threats lurking behind the trees.

Kayan, on the other hand, remained calm. To this fervent believer, there was no safer place in the world than beside Nolan.

Grr… Rustle… Creak…

The deeper they ventured, the more strange noises echoed from the surrounding darkness.

Vivi’s hearing was simply too sharp. She could pick up countless subtle sounds no ordinary person would ever notice. The eerie noises made by magical beasts hiding in the shadows steadily increased her unease. Without realizing it, she gradually edged closer and closer to Nolan.

Noticing the troubled look on her face, Nolan reached over and ruffled her hair gently, messing it up as he spoke in the softest tone he could manage. “Don’t be afraid, Vivi. The Wood Elf ranger patrol is here, and so am I.”

“Wh-who’s afraid?!”

Vivi immediately slapped his hand away. Even so, his concern made her heart feel sweet, and his reassurance genuinely calmed her.

While smoothing out her messy hair, she stubbornly muttered, “I’m not scared at all! I’m just a little tired from walking!”

A Gold-rank Nightingale would not tire even after marching continuously for three days and nights, let alone half a day.

Her terrible excuse caused Rehanna and Ailindel to exchange glances, both seeing amusement reflected in the other’s eyes.

“We’re almost there, Vivi,” Romina said reassuringly from the front after overhearing her.

At that moment, the previously silent Finley suddenly spoke. “Captain.” He glanced toward Nolan and the soldiers behind him. “If they’re entering Forest Home, then shouldn’t they…” He trailed off before finishing the sentence, merely raising a hand and gesturing over his eyes as though blindfolding himself.

Nolan frowned immediately. He did not like that idea at all, nor would he allow his people to be treated like prisoners.